Pawrents love their furbabies to the core. Being a pet lover myself, it is always a pain to leave them at home while I travel places to unwind. So when I decide to bring them along, there are some concerns and situations which I need to consider; One of which is to find places where they are welcome to tag along.
And so… My search begins. First stop, Baguio City.
I have reached out to several cafes and restaurants in the area, lo and behold, I am fortunate enough to find a couple of places that will welcome your furbabies while you dine and unwind in the City of Pines. Combined with the cool breeze of Baguio, picturesque interiors and mouth watering food choices, they are sure worthy to be on this list. Feel free to check them out! I’m excited and looking forward to hear your stories about your visit.
- Choco-late de Batirol – Camp John Hay
- Ozark Diner – Bakakeng Norte
- Lemon and Olives – Outlook Drive
- GypsyBaguio by Chef Waya – Quezon Hill
- The Secret Garden Resto & Cafe Co. – South Drive
- Hot Cat Specialty Coffee – Upper General Luna
CHOCO-LATE DE BATIROL
Choco-late de Batirol opened its doors in 2000 in Camp John Hay, Baguio City. The idea behind their establishment was to revive and preserve the tradition of batirol, a wooden whisk used to mix and froth hot chocolate made from locally sourced, pure cacao.
Their vision was to create a space that offers a comforting and nostalgic experience, combining rich Filipino heritage with the charm of Baguio’s cool mountain breeze. Over the years, Choco-late de Batirol has become a beloved spot for locals and tourists alike, seeking an authentic taste of traditional Filipino hot chocolate and hearty comfort food.
Choco-late de Batirol welcomes well behaved pets and here are a few of their guidelines for pet owners:
- Pets must be on a leash or in a carrier at all times.
- Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets.
- Pets are allowed in the outdoor alfresco dining area only (where they can enjoy the Baguio fresh air)
So when you come by to visit, make sure to try their Best Sellers: the signature hot chocolate (tsokolate de batirol), suman sa lihiya, bibingka, and savory dishes like Pork Kare-Kare and Bistek Tagalog are a must-try. They can accommodate up to a total of 200 guests at a time.
How to Get There:
- Ride a Taxi – (usually costs about 120 pesos) from SM. Just tell the driver to drop you to Choco-late De Batirol at Camp John Hay.
- Ride a jeepney – (for 15 pesos) that says “Baguio Country Club” located by the SSS building near Burnham Park. Just tell the driver to drop you at Gate 4 of Camp John Hay.
| Choco-late de Batirol | Store Hours: Open daily from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Address: Igorot Park, Camp John Hay, Baguio City / Level 2, Sunset Terraces, SM City Baguio, Baguio City Facebook: Choco-late de Batirol Instagram: @chocolatedebatirolbaguio
OZARK DINER
Ozark Diner opened in 2014, with their Bed and Breakfast that followed in 2017. Owners Albert Sotelo and Kevin Mize moved to Baguio City from Dallas, TX as part of their plan to retire in the Philippines. Kevin was a former chef from Little Rock, Arkansas; while Albert was a former Operations Manager for American Airlines. They found a beautiful lot in Bakakeng Norte with a view of a pine forest, where they built their home, the Bed and Breakfast, and the Diner.
Ozark Diner welcomes guests with well-behaved pets as they are pet owners themselves. Looking back in 2017, Albert mentioned that there were only a few places where one can stay or visit that were pet-friendly in the area.
Their rules for pawrents are simple: Make sure that your pets are on a regular flea and tick treatment to ensure your furbaby’s safety while visiting Baguio; and that pets should always be on a leash when in public shared areas of their property.
Ozark Diner is busiest during breakfast. Make sure to order their popular items such as Biscuits and Gravy, Nashville Brunch, Big American Breakfast with Sausages or Bacon. Filipino favorites like longanisa and bangus are also a must try. (and yes, they make their own meat products in house!)
How to get there: The best way to get there is to use any online map and look for Ozark Diner. “We are a hidden gem here in Baguio City”
| Ozark Diner | Store Hours: (Mon Wed Thurs Sun) 8am to 6pm; (Fri Sat) 8am to 8pm; (Tues) Closed Address: 6 Bareng Drive, Bakakeng Norte, Baguio City Website: www.ozarkbaguiocity.com Facebook: @ozarkdiner
LEMON AND OLIVES
Lemon and Olives was established in 2016, when the owners met Chef Takish, a greek chef based in La Union. Being a big fan of Greek food themselves and tapping an unserved market in the area, Chef Takish’s proposal of opening a Greek Restaurant in Baguio City, seemed to be a perfect idea.
The plan and ideas started rolling in as they restored their old house in Outlook Drive to pave the way for the restaurant. With professional help, they were able to restore some parts of the house, kept some of the original woods, and added a little touch of Greek in the interiors to have that rustic vibe.
Pets are welcome in Lemon and Olives with a few guidelines: Furbabies are allowed in the balcony area of the restaurant, given they are at least potty trained, wear a diaper or in a doggy stroller.
When you come to visit Lemon and Olives, make sure to try their Lamb Chops, Souvlaki Plate, and Mediterranean Pasta, as these come highly recommended and their best sellers.
How to get there:
- Ride a taxi.
- Ride a Jeepney – look for a jeepney that says “Mines view”. The terminal is located at Harrison Road beside Jollibee. You can ask the Drivers or Conductors if they would pass Outlook Drive. If they say that they would pass outlook, simply ask them to Drop you at Lemon and Olives.
| Lemon and Olives | Store Hours: (weekdays) 11:00am to 8:30pm; (weekends) 7:00am to 8:30pm Address: We are located at #26 Outlook Drive, Baguio City IG: @lemonandolivesph FB: Lemon and Olives
GYPSYBAGUIO by CHEF WAYA
GypsyBaguio opened in 2021 after closing two restaurants in Quezon City due to the pandemic. Baguio was their safe space and refuge when the pandemic happened.
GypsyBaguio are happy to host your furry friends, they do request however for all pet-owners to observe the following reminders to help maintain a safe and agreeable environment for all their customers:
- All pets will only be hosted/permitted in the al fresco dining area.
- Pets must be kept on a leash and on the floor at all times to avoid disturbance to other pets and customers.
- Pet owners should be responsible for any messes made by their pets.
- Plates and tableware are for human use only; their servers will be happy to lend pawrents a proper bowl for your pet’s food or water.
GypsyBaguio serves global comfort food, with particular focus on using local, farmer-sourced ingredients. They can accommodate up to 100 diners at a time, and have three (3) function rooms aside from the main dining and alfresco area. They can do onsite and offsite catering with custom menus.
How to get there: They are in the vicinity of Mirador Ecopark and Lourdes Grotto, and on the way to BenCab Museum, Tam-awan and Mt Costa. Suggest you plan your trip with this itinerary.
| GypsyBaguio by Chef Waya | Store Hours: Open daily from 11am to 9pm Address: 6 Pilar Lim, Road 2 Quezon Hill Fb and IG - GypsyBaguio by Chef Waya
THE SECRET GARDEN RESTAURANT & CAFE
The Secret Garden Resto & Cafe started in 2012, where the concept and inspiration came from a very famous Korean movie at the time. It was a serene place built for family and friends who came together to unwind. The place is surrounded by various plants and trees which seems to be the perfect setting; Giving any nature lover a paradise to come to and have this marvelous experience, Thus, The Secret Garden is now being described as the restaurant in the forest; Built with lots of sacrifices, integrity, respect, and love.
The Secret Garden welcomes pets in their premises with the following guidelines:
- Pets should be fully vaccinated and owners must show proof if requested
- Pets should wear diapers at all times if possible
- Please make sure to clean after your pets
- Excessive barking and aggressive behavior are not allowed. The restaurant reserves the right to hold owners responsible for any damages to and request compensation.
- Do not place pets on dining tables
- The restaurant reserves the right to refuse entry to non-compliant pets and/or owners
- Pets must be free of fleas, ticks and other infestation
- Restaurant staff are not liable to any injury to the pets while in premises
- Restaurant staffs are not responsible for your pets
- Respect personal space of other pet(s) and owner(s)
- Please bring your own food bowl(s) for your pets
The Secret Garden also pride themselves in serving delectable meals offering authentic Italian pasta, seafood pasta and the famous Brick-oven thin crust pizza in the city. They also serve irresistible rice dishes such as Beef tapa, pork lechon kawali, and honey glazed fried chicken. They can cater up to 50 pax at a time and welcome functions for any kinds of events.
How to get there:
- Ride the Jeepney – terminal is located beside the SSS building and Petron gas station, along Harrison road.
- Ride a taxi or use your own car. They have parking spaces available just along the road beside the entrance.
| The Secret Garden Restaurant & Cafe | Store Hours: Open daily 10am to 10pm (last call of orders is at 9pm) Address: #34 Paterno street, South drive, Baguio city FB: @baguiosecretgarden
HOT CAT SPECIALTY COFFEE
Hot Cat started in 2017 as an effort to bring the third wave and specialty coffee scene to Baguio city. The founder, Dr. Charles Angelo Young, was heavily influenced by his time spent at El Union Coffee in San Juan, La Union. Out of a desire to see Baguio elevate its coffee, he pitched the idea of starting a café to his family, and they all agreed to try.
Hot Cat first opened as a coffee counter at the Old Orangewood Bed & Breakfast on P. Burgos street in Baguio, and later moved to the One Yangco hub in front of Brent International School. The team has since studied further under the Institute for Coffee Excellence in Mandaluyong, and continues to seek ways to both serve and educate in the ways of coffee brewing.
Hot Cat rules and regulations when you plan on bringing your pets along to visit:
- Make sure to have a leash or carrier handy. Not all patrons will share our love for animals equally, so it’s best to have a way to keep them close.
- Bring diapers or small waste bags. Be prepared to clean up after your pet, since they are your own responsibility. Make sure they don’t mark the place with their scent either, it could drive future animals a little crazy!
- Hot cat is willing to provide service water for your pets, just make sure you have a container handy.
Hot Cat is mainly a café, so the menu is drink-heavy. Plenty of the classic espresso drinks, and pour overs. If you’re not a coffee drinker, they have non-coffee options available as well, with a few meals and sandwiches to snack on. Their space might not be able to sit large groups together but they can accommodate around 30-35 people at a time. Hot Cat is also open to consultation for other café businesses, and offers training to varying degrees.
How to get there:
- Ride the Jeepney – you may take either a Minesview or Pacdal jeep from town, get down at the Leonardwood intersection, and walk towards Brent School up the hill. The place should be right next to the rotunda.
- The café is underneath the Mt. Cloud book shop, and the hub itself is in front of Brent International School, past the Pink Sisters Convent.
| Hot Cat Specialty Coffee | Store Hours: Open daily from 8am-7pm Address: 1 Yangco Road, Upper General Luna, Baguio, Benguet 2600 FB: Hot Cat Specialty Coffee IG: @bahaypusa or @hotcat.caf
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